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The International Olympic Committee has suspended India's Olympic Association over an election for planning to stage an election that was to be contested by just one official who had been accused of corruption.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was due to hold elections on Wednesday in which Lalit Bhanot, who spent 11 months in custody on corruption charges linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but has since been released on bail, had been set to be appointed.

Until the suspension is lifted, Indian athletes will not be able to participate in Game events, with the IOA also losing its IOC funding.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took the decision because of the IOA's "failure to comply with the Olympic Charter and its statures, failure to inform the IOC in a timely matter, and as a protective measure against government interference in the IOA's election process," said the Olympic governing body in a statement.

"With this decision, the IOA is no longer entitled to exercise any activity or right, including financial support, conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC until the suspension is lifted by the IOC executive board.

Rio hard at work ahead of 2016 Olympics

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – During the day, the Olympic Park in London is heaving with people going to and from events and seeing the sights. But at night, it's a different story. One day towards the end of the Olympics fortnight, CNN's Linnie Rawlinson stayed to see what happens once spectators are all inside the venues, watching their evening games.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – Though night was falling, and a little rain was too, the live broadcast in the Olympic Park continued ...

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – ... watched by many hardy Olympics fans who'd purchased park tickets or stayed on after watching the day's events.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – In the absence of large crowds, mounted police officers had time to chat to spectators - who took the opportunity to admire their horses, too.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – The picnic area outside the Copper Box, crowded earlier in the day, was almost deserted at dusk. Artist Monica Bonvicini's permanent sculpture, "Run," shone brightly in front of it. The venue will become a multi-purpose venue for community and sporting events.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – Even the Coca Cola beat box -- an interactive installation featuring music by Mark Ronson -- was quiet.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – The stadium and the Orbit stood out against the cloudy East London sky and reflected in the River Lea, which flows through the park. The stadium was hosting athletics that night.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – I could hear the crowd roaring from inside the stadium, but the ticket gate was as far as I could go. After the Games, the stadium will hold sports, community and entertainment events, with a focus on athletics.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park – The Aquatic Centre shone neon yellow beyond wildflower planting on the banks of the River Lea. The venue's curved center, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, will remain after the Games. The sweeping wings either side are temporary stands that will be dismantled at the end of the Games.

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – The Aquatic Centre with the Water Polo Arena in the background. From this angle, the Arena almost looked like a blue whale rising up from the Lea. The lights in its roof pulsed from blue to green to purple.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park15 photos

An alternative view of the Olympic Park – The Water Polo Arena, seen beyond the River Lea, is the first dedicated water polo venue to be built for an Olympic Games. Its components will be reused or recycled after the Games.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park – Two Eton Manor volunteers took a moment for a quiet conversation in front of the "bit.fall" installation by artist Julius Popp. Words taken from live news headlines are projected at random onto five man-made waterfalls under the Stratford Gate bridge.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park – Once the evening's athletics had finished, crowds poured from the Olympic Stadium. Dancers guided the crowds towards the exits and wished them a safe journey home.

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An alternative view of the Olympic Park – It was time for me to head home too. I bade the Olympic Park farewell, knowing it'd be the last time I'd see the five Olympic rings emblazoned against the East London sky.

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EXPAND GALLERY

"In particular, the executive board confirms that the IOA is not entitled to hold any elections until all pending issues are resolved and the EB decides to lift the suspension."

The IOA was due to hold elections on Wednesday in which an official accused of corruption relating to the 2010 Commonwealth Games had been set to be appointed.

Root and branch reform

Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won the country's only individual Olympic gold medalist after his success in the 10m air rifle in Beijing four years ago, called on the IOA to get its "act together".

"I think we should take it as an opportunity to try and clean up the system and build an Olympics association that we all can be proud of," Bindra told CNN. "So far the association has not done anything for the development of Olympic sports in India."

And sports lawyer Rahul Mehra, who has been campaigning to improve governance within the IOA, welcomed the IOC's action.

"I am glad what our government could not do, the IOC has done," said Mehra. "It should have been done two and half years when the Commonwealth Games happened which was the biggest scam this country has ever seen. That was the first wake up call."

Mehra also called for root and branch reform of the IOA. "Yes its embarrassing for India, but we need a shakeup, we need a revolution of sorts. Its about transformation in Indian sports, we need new blood, we need new vigor in Indian sports."